Love Lives Here!

In this past Sunday's sermon, Pastor Richie made mention of the late Mildred Bangs Wynkoop (d. 1997), a theologian who described holiness as not merely the absence of sin, but the presence of love.

In considering our walk with the Lord, we are reminded that He desires perfect love from us. Our pastor referred to Psalm 27:4: "I have asked God for one thing, my constant desire, the one thing I keep craving, the desire that rules me: to remain in the LORD's house every day of my life, to be found gazing on His beauty, asking Him questions and seeking His answers in His Temple."

An interesting thing about Psalm 27:4 is that David makes reference to a temple, but the temple of Solomon had not yet been constructed. Perhaps we, in this verse, see a flash of David's faith and passion, a hint of his desire to see a permanent place designated for the worship of his great God (see First Chronicles 17).

I think that is a good analogy for us to reflect on. In the lifetimes of Moses and David, the tabernacle was portable. The wood and curtains would be set up, taken down, set up, taken down. But, early in the reign of King Solomon, a beautiful temple was constructed-- a structure designed for permanence.

The Scripture says that, now, we are the temple of the living God, the place designed for His Spirit to dwell (see First Corinthians 6:19). But, are we treating our bodies like a temple, His permanent place, or are we treating our bodies like a tabernacle, where we at will opt to set up a temporary space for God (then hours later deconstruct it while wandering off to pursue other loves, then re-set it when we want or need something that only He can give, then deconstruct it again...)?

Pastor Richie shared with us that a sign of holiness is that we have a singleness of heart. God has no competitor, no rival. God has found a permanent dwelling place in those of us who have completely given ourselves to Him. We are perfected in love because we have agreed with God: "I am the LORD your God... you shall have no other god beside Me." Amen.

Lord, grant us a deep desire to be found in perfect love: an exclusive desire for You that signals to the world that it is possible, and necessary, to live lives of holiness.